Gu Nianzhi frowned as the door was pushed open. There were two elegantly dressed women standing at the door.
Wen Shouyi was an old acquaintance, so Gu Nianzhi glanced at her first.
Wen Shouyi winked at her and smiled.
Gu Nianzhi remained calm as she looked at the middle-aged woman standing next to her. She was shocked.
This person, this person’s appearance…
She used all her strength to control the urge to scream.
She clenched her fists, and her nails dug into the flesh of her palms.
A sharp pain came from her palms, and her mind finally snapped out of its frenzied state.
Looking at the middle-aged woman smiling elegantly, then recalling the exact same Pushin, Vladimir, the chauffeur uncle Ivan, and Speaker Long, Gu Nianzhi’s heart thumped wildly again.
She felt as if she had understood something, but at the same time, she felt that it was too unbelievable and shocking.
The middle-aged woman’s gaze swept past her face and landed on He Chengjian, who was standing opposite Gu Nianzhi.
“Brother He, you should be taking your medicine by now.” She walked over slowly and held He Chengjian’s arm. Her voice was exceptionally gentle. “Go take your medicine first.”
“I’ve already taken my medicine.” He Chengjian patted the back of her hand and pulled his arm out quietly. He looked at Gu Nianzhi and said, “This is Nianzhi. You’ve seen her already haven’t you?”
The middle-aged woman was Qin Yaoguang. She gave Gu Nianzhi a perfunctory look and nodded indifferently. “It’s good that you’re back.”
Her tone was distant and contained self-control. It was as if she was trying to control her emotions and was trying her best to appear indifferent.
Gu Nianzhi looked at her in a daze, and struggled to shift her gaze away from her lips.
This middle-aged woman had an oval face, but her jaw was slightly square. It wasn’t out of place, but rather attractive.
Although it was obvious that she wasn’t young, but there were no wrinkles on her face, and her skin was fair and smooth.
Her hands looked very strong. Her slender fingers were well-jointed, and her nails were round and well-manicured.
She was wearing a white silk blouse with a large lapel and seven-fold sleeves. She was wearing long, straight, black pencil pants and a pair of white flat-bottomed shoes. She was tall, and her dark hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head. Her eyes were full of affection, she tilted her head and looked at He Chengjian intently.
Gu Nianzhi looked at her quietly, and no one in the room said anything.
He Chengjian and Wen Shouyi both stared at them.
Qin Yaoguang seemed to have finally noticed Gu Nianzhi’s unusual gaze on her. She frowned slightly and said, “Hasn’t anyone ever taught you that it’s rude to stare at people like that?”
The disgust and impatience in her tone was completely undisguised.
Gu Nianzhi was initially in a state of extreme shock.
However, as soon as Qin Yaoguang spoke, her tone was like a bucket of cold water being thrown at Gu Nianzhi, completely waking her up.
No, they were different.
Gu Nianzhi composed herself calmly. Her hands in her trouser pockets and her chin slightly raised, she said, “I see that you’re old, and I respect the elderly and love the young, so I won’t lower myself to your level. But you suddenly barged into my room and didn’t even introduce yourself, and you scolded me for being rude and said that I shouldn’t stare at you. May I ask what happened to your manners and upbringing? You’ve lived for so many years, and you threw them all away?”
Qin Yaoguang’s face darkened and she said stiffly, “You’re talking to me like that? It looks like you haven’t made any progress in the seven years you’ve been there. You don’t have to worry about who I am. Get ready for the surgery tomorrow.”
“What surgery?” Gu Nianzhi asked curiously on purpose. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my body.”
“Memory-stripping surgery,” Qin Yaoguang said lightly. “According to our confidentiality rules, everyone who has been there has to undergo this surgery.”
“Really?” Gu Nianzhi had already argued with He Chengjian once. She crossed her arms over her chest and her face was dark. “I’m sorry, I just told General He that I’m not from your side, so I’m not subject to your laws.”
“Of course you’re from my side. Don’t think that you’re not from my side just because you’ve been there for seven years.” Qin Yaoguang didn’t back down at all. “Do you want me to show you your identity document and birth certificate?”
Gu Nianzhi’s heart couldn’t help sinking, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Is it true that everyone who has been there has to undergo this kind of surgery?”
“Not only the ones who have been there, but anyone who knows anything about that place will also have to undergo the memory-stripping surgery.” Qin Yaoguang shook her slender fingers. “So you don’t have to feel that it’s unfair. Everyone does it, and no one will be able to escape.”
“Really?” Gu Nianzhi’s gaze was fixed on Wen Shouyi. “She’s been there too. Does that mean she has to undergo this kind of surgery as well?”
She then pointed at Qin Yaoguang. “Also, you know about the other side, so do you want to undergo the same surgery?”
“We’re different from you.” Qin Yaoguang’s voice was calm. “Shouyi and I both have high security. We don’t need to undergo this kind of memory-stripping surgery.”
“What about Qin Zhining?” Gu Nianzhi blurted out. “Does he need to undergo this kind of surgery?”
“Of course. He’s done with the surgery.” Wen Shouyi smiled. “But he’s still recovering. When you see him in the future, remember to introduce yourself! He doesn’t remember you anymore.”
Gu Nianzhi’s face gradually turned pale.
Wanting to stay away from these people, she couldn’t help taking two steps back.
If she got any closer, she would feel as if the air in front of her was about to be sucked dry.
As she got closer to them, she felt her chest tighten.
Gu Nianzhi clenched her fists then loosened them again and again. After a long while, she said in a hoarse voice, “You’re General He’s wife. It’s one thing that your security level is high, but what right does she have?”
Her face full of indignation, she continued to point her fingers at Wen Shouyi.
“What right does she have?” Qin Yaoguang chuckled. “She’s a top law student at Harvard University. She’s also the head of the military legal department and one of the personal secretaries of Zhichu. Tell me, why isn’t her security level high?”
“As for Qin Zhining, he’s just a colonel in the special forces. His security level is completely inadequate.”
Gu Nianzhi was confused by the news. “Personal… personal secretary? Why does Professor He have a personal secretary?”
“Professor He? You mean Zhichu?” Qin Yaoguang sighed and shook her head. “This kid, he’s a good major general, but he chose to risk his life to come to your side and become a powerless professor. I don’t have to tell you how much he loves you, do I?”
“Major… major general?!” Gu Nianzhi squeezed the words through her teeth. “How did Professor He become a major general?!”
“His father was a general, the head of the Military Supreme Council. Zhichu is worldly, joined the military in his early years, and was promoted from a lieutenant to a major general. Don’t you remember that?” Qin Yaoguang’s tone was full of pity. She shook her head slightly. “Ah, I’m sorry that you lost your memory of things that happened before you were twelve.”
Gu Nianzhi was at a loss for a moment. All she could think of was the fact that He Zhichu was a major general.”
He Zhichu wasn’t an experienced lawyer or an academic professor. Was he also a soldier?
Gu Nianzhi seemed to understand something when she thought of He Zhichu’s extraordinary skills and weapons.
So that’s how it was.
Wen Shouyi helped Qin Yaoguang sit down on the sofa and said with pride, “Brother Ah-Chu is already very powerful. He has a law doctorate from Yale, and after joining the army, he has made many contributions to the military. He truly has both intelligence and athletic prowress!”
Gu Nianzhi was shocked when Wen Shouyi called him “Brother Ah-Chu.”.
She had always suspected that Wen Shouyi had a crush on He Zhichu, but now it was finally confirmed.
“… Brother Ah-Chu.” Gu Nianzhi’s lips twitched. “Wen Shouyi, does Professor He know that you missed him so much?”
Wen Shouyi didn’t seem to care at all. “I’ve always called him that. I’ve been calling him that since seven years ago.”
“After you left, Zhihu fell seriously ill and almost lost his life. It was only because Shouyi called him ‘Brother Ah-Chu’ that Zhichu had the motivation to live.”
Qin Yaoguang pulled Wen Shouyi’s arm. “Shouyi took care of Zhichu in his hospital bed for an entire year before he recovered.”
He Chengjian added, “Shouyi did contribute to our family. Without her, we wouldn’t have been able to live on at that time…”
Gu Nianzhi: “…”
She didn’t quite understand what he meant.
She clearly remembered that He Zhichu didn’t have a good impression of Wen Shouyi. He didn’t look like he would have the motivation to live on just because she called him that.
Wen Shouyi smiled bitterly and lowered her head.
That year had been the best year of her life.
Unfortunately, it had been too short.
After He Zhichu had regained consciousness, he had started to become indifferent towards her again.
Gu Nianzhi shook her head and said calmly, “I don’t believe you. Unless Professor He stands in front of me and says it’s because of you that he had the motivation to live, otherwise, it’s all your lies.”
“What a stubborn duck.” Qin Yaoguang chuckled. “When Zhichu comes back, let him tell you himself.”
“Okay, please don’t tell me about the surgery before Professor He comes back.” Gu Nianzhi wanted to stall for time. She put her hands in her pockets and said aloofly, “Now please leave my room. I want to rest.”